Brian Bernardi nets 22 as Hofstra wins opener, 94-61
Dion Nesmith of the Hofstra Pride hits a basket against J.R. Holder of the Jacksonville Dolphins at Mack Sports Complex at Hofstra University on Nov 14. 2014 in Hempstead, New York. Credit: Mike Stobe
This isn't the Hofstra team you remember from last season.
The Pride made that much clear in the first half of its 94-61 victory over visiting Jacksonville Friday night in the opener for both teams. Hofstra's 53 points in the opening 20 minutes were the most the team has scored in a first half since Jan. 27, 2010, in a 93-54 win over UNC Wilmington.
The Pride outshot Jacksonville 55.2 percent to 33.3 percent and five Hofstra players reached double figures, including four who didn't play for the team last season.
"Lot of stuff from a lot of people," coach Joe Mihalich said. "The points were balanced, the minutes were balanced. Good way to start the season."
Brian Bernardi began his night 5-for-5 from the field and finished with 22 points and 8-for-10 shooting. The sophomore transfer from SMU hit six three-pointers, one shy of tying a school record, in eight attempts.
"I always go into a game thinking I'm going to make every shot," Bernardi said. "So once that first one goes in, I feel like I'm not going to miss."
Junior guard Juan'ya Green, a key member of Mihalich's Niagara team for two years before joining the Pride last season, was anxious to play in his first game since March 2013. He sat out all of last season because of NCAA transfer rules.
Green had 14 points, nine assists and five rebounds and didn't commit a turnover.
"I was pretty nervous," he said. "I think it was all based on my first shot. So I felt pretty good about myself out of the gate."
Forward Ameen Tanksley, a junior transfer from Niagara, was 7-for-11 from the field and scored 16 points. Junior forward Malik Nichols, who transferred from South Plains (Texas), had 15 points and shot 6-for-8.
Freshman Andre Walker had 11 rebounds and six blocks, and freshman Rokas Gustys pulled down 10 rebounds. Guard Dion Nesmith, a graduate student and Hofstra's top returning player, had 11 points and five rebounds.
"Nobody has to be the guy," Mihalich said. "There's a bunch of guys that share the game. They play well together and know that if we play hard together, we can be a good team."
It was a breath of fresh air for the 2,208 in attendance at Mack Sports Complex. On the heels of a 10-23 season, the Pride was tabbed to finish third in the Colonial Athletic Association preseason poll.
"The excitement was there, the emotion was there," Mihalich said. "That's what you try to do. Give them a reason to come back. We felt bad a year ago when we let everybody down. [Tonight], they liked what they saw."
